Awakening

I’ll be real with you; blogging for Awakening isn’t easy for me. The feeling of inadequacy crept up a number of times as I attempted to write this.

I had an idea of what God put on my heart to share, but the journey of doing something new is a bit like dancing for the first time; learning to trust my dance partner – Jesus – and following his lead. I don’t always feel like I’ve got what it takes. But regardless of how I feel, He waits for me to take each step with Him.

Sometimes when the journey gets difficult, kind of like tripping up during a smooth waltz, I’m inclined to sit down and just sulk. That’s when my flesh screams against doing what’s right, and I start to think, “It’s not fair! I’m hurting! Why should I do what He asks me to?”

But why shouldn’t I?

I’m one of those people who would go to great lengths to ‘do something’ about a cause if the vision gets me passionate. But emotion doesn’t necessarily precede action; in other words, you don’t always have to feel to do–especially when love becomes part of the equation. Does God ever have a day where He doesn’t ‘feel like it’ and denies us of His love? How could I then, having received His unconditional love, choose to withhold it based on my emotions?

I already hear you asking, what’s love got to do with any of this? Well, put simply, it’s the love of God awakened in us all that will drive us to live for our fellow man–-to see justice done for the least of God’s creation. And we will never have to wait to feel the rush of being called to a cause. We will simply act because His love compels us to.

Although injustice currently appears to have the upper hand, justice and righteousness will nevertheless prevail. God echoes this promise throughout His Word:

And He will judge the world in righteousness (rightness and equity); He will minister justice to the peoples in uprightness. (Psalm 9:8, AMP)

It takes acts of justice to bring about righteousness in this world. God is and will be the divine minister of justice, the one that brings us towards a world of righteousness. But as He works, we can also be part of making it happen–-we can be ministers of His justice.

The leaders of C3 have a vision for Awakening to be just that. It involves partnering with local and international ministries so that the Body of Christ can reveal God’s heart for creation in a tangible way. As a ministry that releases children from poverty in Jesus’ name, Compassion has been chosen to be the international ministry partner. Since 1951 Compassion has assisted children born into poverty and nurtured them in all areas of their development. Compassion’s holistic child development has restored the dignity of children and helped them break free from the vicious cycle of poverty through the love of God, not just in their own lives, but in the lives of their family and wider community.

You’ll get to learn more about Compassion’s Child Sponsorship Program at Awakening, but in the mean time I’ll say this much: partnering with Compassion allows you and me as individuals to bring justice to the ends of the earth.

However you are called to challenge injustice for the long-term, whether it’s through a ministry like Compassion or your own personal calling, don’t forget that you also have an opportunity to do something about it on a daily basis; be it by saying a kind word, making a fair decision, lending a loving hand, or even blessing your enemies. Don’t wait to feel. Just act.

I find it fascinating that our Lord Himself is a lover of righteousness and justice. It’s His desire for us really, to show His love for all of Creation:

            The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. (Psalm 33:5, NIV)

There are so many people hurting and going through what seems like the toughest day of their life, with no one to fight for them. Whatever valley they are in, I pray that because of you, they may know of God’s unfailing love and his desire to see justice poured out in their lives.


Irene Kao
Compassion child sponsor & employee of Compassion Australia

What can I say??? Awakening Sydney was AWESOME! This was my first ever awakening, and certainly won’t be my last! All the speakers were amazing, however I felt Robert Guerrero’s messages cut me to the heart, making an impact, changing my attitudes and awakening a sense of Justice in me! Pastor Robert talked about how the cries of injustice are heard in heaven, that just kept ringing in my ears, and how he said “what is in your hands right now? Ask God to show you”. Well I did ask, and I began to think of what injustice really is, I began to feel a sense of injustice toward the elderly in our community, and how they sacrificed their lives in service for us fighting in wars for our freedom, having a lifetime of stories and knowledge only to be abandoned and forgotten. My hands of gratitude, my hands that can help, I choose to reach out. I searched on the internet about social justice and I began to see how children and adults are used and abused in labour to make clothing and footwear for large companies, working long hours and poor wages, and suffering physical abuse. Some arguments were that they were lucky to be earning an income to support their families. This is so wrong when the companies are paying so little for labour yet charging so much in western countries. What is in my hands? What can I do? I find it easy to throw money into an offering or at a cause and not REALLY pay a price. (I’m not against using my increase to fight for the cause of others), I simply began to think “there must be more I can do”. Now I am little miss bargain hunter, and always look for cheap garments...... until now, I began to wonder where these cheap clothes were coming from, who had to sacrifice time with their family to make them? Did a child make this instead of getting an education and going to school? Who suffered physically from me getting a bargain? I am only one person; I decided that the conviction of my heart had to have some sort of action. I have decided to make a sacrifice and pay extra to buy Australian made, where I know the people will be getting at least a minimum wage and working in reasonable circumstances. My hands will protest against inhumane treatment and injustice. A small beginning but a step in the right direction. So thank you to all the speakers at AWAKENING who made a mark on my heart that will never be erased.

Cherloe Morgan